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Author: Dr. Tara Swart, MD, PhD
Genres: Science, Psychology, Neuroscience, Self-Improvement
Publication Date: September 16, 2025
Publisher: HarperOne
Pages: 304 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 9780063391200
Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes
The Signs: The New Science of How to Trust Your Instincts aims to demystify intuition by rooting it in physiology and cognitive science. This the signs the new science of how to trust your instincts book review looks at how Dr. Tara Swart translates research on interoception, predictive processing, and attention into simple practices for clearer, faster judgment without drifting into pseudoscience.
Swart argues that what we call “gut feelings” are often rapid pattern recognitions informed by prior experience, bodily signals, and subconscious prediction. The book outlines a framework—notice, interpret, test—for engaging with hunches, alongside routines for sleep, stress, nutrition, and journaling that sharpen signal detection and reduce bias. Case studies—from clinical practice to leadership coaching—show intuition working best when paired with deliberate verification.
The prose is clean and practitioner-friendly: short chapters, recap bullet points, and exercises at the end of sections. Swart blends academic citations with relatable anecdotes, maintaining a pragmatic tone. Diagrams on the brain–body loop and decision trees make abstract ideas concrete for general readers.
Strengths: science-grounded but accessible; clear exercises; practical guardrails against magical thinking.
Weaknesses: some studies are summarized at a high level; readers wanting deep methodology may want more citations; a few coaching vignettes feel polished for effect.
On Goodreads, early readers praise the actionable structure—especially the “notice–interpret–test” loop—and the balanced tone that neither dismisses nor romanticizes intuition. Amazon reviewers highlight the checklists and journaling prompts as immediately useful.
Publishers Weekly notes the book’s “evidence-forward pragmatism,” while Kirkus calls it “a welcome antidote to pop-mysticism around intuition.” Coverage in science media praises the focus on interoception and predictive processing, with mild critiques that some claims could use deeper sourcing for specialists.
Ideal for professionals who make fast calls (healthcare, founders, managers), students of psychology and neuroscience, and readers who enjoy science-based self-improvement. Less suited for those seeking purely inspirational narratives or dense academic texts.
Dr. Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and executive advisor known for translating brain science into practical tools for decision-making and resilience. Her dual clinical and coaching background shapes the book’s mix of lab findings and applied exercises.
The Signs succeeds as a science-literate guide to using intuition responsibly. By pairing physiology with practical routines, Swart offers a credible middle path between “trust your gut” clichés and hyper-rational paralysis. Final Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
Explore perspectives at Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Scientific American: Mind.
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